LOGINBella’s POVAfter Lucille departed, the estate drifted back into a peaceful, sunlit quiet.For the next two hours, I sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the grand living room, relaxing on the plush chaise lounge, reviewing the final floral arrangement blueprints for the ballroom reception. The sheer scale of the wedding was staggering—high-society delegates, international political figures, textile titans, and close personal friends. But beneath the glittering surface of the upcoming gala, a quiet, profound sense of joy anchored my heart.Around two in the afternoon, my private medical nurse, Sarah, insisted on taking my vitals."Everything looks wonderfully stable, Ms. Ross," Sarah smiled, clipping her stethoscope into her pocket after wrapping the blood pressure cuff away. "Your heart rate is calm, your pressure is optimal, and the baby’s heartbeat during this morning's Doppler scan was strong and steady. Just keep resting.""Thank you, Sarah," I replied, offering a polite nod. "
Bella’s POVThe heavy oak doors of Maximo’s private study opened outward, flooding the mahogany-paneled room with the soft, amber glow of the mid-morning sun.I sat comfortably at the wide executive desk, wearing a fluid ivory silk blouse, a warm cashmere wrap draped over my shoulders to stave off the chill of the estate's high-ceilinged stone corridors. My left hand rested gently against the polished wood, the heavy, breathtaking Kashmir blue sapphire engagement ring catching the light with every slight movement of my fingers.The sprawling estate had become my absolute sanctuary over the past three weeks. True to his word, Maximo had turned the ground floor into an impenetrable fortress of peace and luxury. Every trace of the chaos that had nearly destroyed us—the hospital attacks, the media storms, the haunting nightmares of Genevieve and Josh Kingsley—seemed like a lifetime away, locked behind heavy iron gates and twenty-four-hour security details managed seamlessly by Thomas, the
Maximo’s POVI held the ring higher, my dark eyes burning with absolute, unconditional love."Marry me, Bella. Let me be your husband. Let me build our fortress, and let me spend eternity proving that I am yours."For a long, breathless moment, the entire lounge was completely silent. The only sound was the soft rustle of rose petals and the distant clicking of camera shutters through the glass downstairs.Bella choked on a sob, a radiant, beautiful smile breaking through her tears. She dropped to her knees right in front of me on the rose petals, throwing her arms around my neck, burying her face into my shoulder."Yes..." she wept softly against my skin, her voice breaking with absolute happiness. "Yes, Maximo... I'll marry you. I love you. God, I love you so much."A roar of triumph and relief exploded in my chest.I pulled her tight against my body, tilting her head back, and captured her lips in a deep, passionate, soul-stirring kiss. The music swelled, Lucille and Clara clapped
Maximo’s POVWhile the master artisan rushed to his workstations, I used the three-hour window to execute the rest of my plan.I didn't just want a quiet, private proposal. Bella deserved to know that she was protected by the full, undeniable weight of my empire. I wanted the world to see her. I wanted every enemy, every reporter, and every parasite in this city to know that Bella Ross was now a Volkov—untouchable, sacred, and fiercely guarded.I pulled out my encrypted phone and dialed Thomas line."Boss," Thomas answered instantly."Thomas, listen to me very carefully," I commanded. "I want you to coordinate with my media relations team. I want every major news network, financial reporter, and press camera crew stationed outside St. Jude’s Memorial Hospital by nine o'clock this morning."Thomas paused, sounding slightly stunned. "The media, sir? But Ms. Ross is recovering from a severe medical collapse—""Exactly," I cut him off, my voice sharp. "The press is already buzzing about G
Maximo’s POV"I am happy, Maximo," she whispered, her voice breaking as a tear slipped down her cheek. "God knows, I love you... and the thought of carrying a piece of us fills my heart with a joy I can't even describe."She placed her small hand over mine on her cheek, her gaze turning dark and troubled. "But how can I be truly happy, Maximo? Look at our lives. Look at the enemies lurking in the shadows. Genevieve is arrested, yes, but her network runs deep. And Josh... even locked in a cell, men like him have friends, lawyers, and vendettas. How am I supposed to bring an innocent baby into this world when my life is a war zone? How can I raise a child safely when danger follows us everywhere we go?"Her words struck me like a physical blow. She was right. The brutal reality of my world—and the enemies my obsession had dragged her into—made her vulnerable. A pregnant woman cannot live in a constant state of siege.I swallowed hard, the joy in my chest solidifying into an unshakeable,
Maximo’s POVThe residual adrenaline from the brutal confrontation with Josh Kingsley was still pumping hot through my veins, but it vanished in a single, terrifying millisecond the moment I felt the heavy, dead weight shift in my arms.I had just pulled Bella against my chest, whispering promises of safety into her hair, when her fingers suddenly went completely limp against my suit jacket. Her head lolled backward against my shoulder, her dark eyes rolling back as the overwhelming exhaustion, the physical trauma of Josh’s attack, and the compounding stress of the past week finally broke her body completely."Bella?" I whispered, my heart plummeting into a bottomless abyss.I pulled back just enough to look at her face. Her skin was deathly pale, completely drained of color, and her lips were parted in a shallow, uncoordinated gasp before her eyes closed entirely."Bella!" I roared, the sound echoing off the sterile walls of the hospital corridor with a terrifying, fractured desperat







